Poultry-coop.



A, MLBENZING.

' POULTRY COOP.- APPLIGATION FILED DBO. 8, 190B.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES T OFFTQE.

ARTHUR M. IBENZING, OF KEYSTONE, IOWA.

POULTRY-COOP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. BENZING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keystone, in the county of Benton and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Im provements in Poultry-Coops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in coops for the reception of fowls or the like, and is particularly directed to a folding coop with the sections so constructed and arranged as to adapt the coop to be collapsed or folded into a comparatively small readily transportable package.

The main object of the invention is the provision of a coop of approximately rectangular form, the sides, ends and top being so connected with each other and with the bottom as to adapt said members to be folded into approximately parallel relation with the bottom and in close contact therewith, and with each other, whereby when in collapsed or folded condition the coop presents a compact package of a length and breadth equaling the similar dimensions of the bottom and of a height equaling the thickness of the bottom, ends and top.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, which will be more apparent as the description progresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings there has been illustrated a simple and preferred embodiment of the invention in which,

Figure l is a perspective View of the device in its raised position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of one of the corners of the coop when in its set up position. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the coop when knocked down. Fig. 6 is a similar view looking toward the end of the device. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of one of the corners of the coop when in its knocked down position.

Referring particularly to the drawings, my improved coop comprises a base member or bottom 1, which may be of a solid or slatted construction as desired and which is, of course, to be of the size desired in the finished coop. The bottom 1 may be provided at its ends and intermediate of its ends with transversely arranged slats 2.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 8, 1908.

member 12 of the coop.

Patented Nov. 23, 19419. Serial No. 466,537.

These slats 2 have their outer edges provided with longitudinal cut away portions 3 so as to provide an abutment for the vertical bars 4 of the sides 5. These vertical bars 4; are provided with any suitable number of longitudinally connecting slats 6 and are secured to the bottom 1 through the medium of suitable flap hinges 7. The sides 5 are of a height approximately equaling one half of the width of the bottom 1, so that when the sides are folded beneath the bottom as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, their ends will be positioned approximately central of the said bottom.

Hingedly connected with the transverse strips 2 as at 8 are the ends, and intermediate partition 9 and 10. The ends 9 and the par tition 10 are centrally hinged as at 11 so that the said ends and partition may be folded upon themselves when the coop is collapsed as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The ends 9 have their hinges so arranged as to fold the sections of the ends inwardly as is also illustrated in Fig. 5, while the central partition 10 is positioned a suitable distance away from the ends 9 so as to be readily folded. *ithout interfering with the said ends. The ends 9 and the partition 10 are hingedly connectedas at 11. with the top This top member is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending strips 12 secured to transverse strips 13. and these transverse strips 13 are arranged in alinement with the members -lof the sides 5 so that when the sides are folded to their upright position as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4: of the drawings the members 4'. of the said sides will engage with the transverse strips 13 at the top. In order to arrange these strips a in a perfect line with the ends of the strips 13, the said strips 13 have their ends cut away and said cut away portions are provided with metallic bearing plates 141 of a width and length equaling the cross sectional contour of the strips 4. The top of the device has one of its longitudinally extending strips, desig nated by the numeral 15 slidably mounted in suitable bearings 16 provided, preferably central, upon the transverse strips 13. The strip 15 and the intermediate bearing 16 are both provided with an alining opening whereby the said strip may be securely looked through the medium of a pin 17, and whereby the strip may be slid longitudinally of the coop to provide an entrance to the compartments thereof when desired.

The transverse strips 13 have their outer faces provided with spaced eyes 18, and the end strips of the sides 5 are provided with suitable hooks 19 adapted to engage the outermost positioned eyes 18 to secure the coop in its upright position, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4: of the drawings or to engage the innermost eyes 18 to secure the coop in its knocked down or folded position, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.

In order to secure the coop rigidly when in its upright position the hinges 11 of the ends 9 and partitions 10 have their connecting pintles projecting outwardly a suitable distance and the members t of the sides 5 are provided with suitable eyes 20 which are adapted to engage the projecting portions 21 of the said pintles when the sides are folded upon the ends and intermediate partitions, thus effectively preventing the bending of the ends or partitions and securing a perfect rigid coop.

As illustrated in the several figures of the drawing the hook members 19 have their engaging portions provided with a spring actuated catch member 22 which normally closes the said engaging portion and thus effectively secures the hook in locked position upon the eyes 18.

hen the coop is adapted to be knocked down or folded for transportation or storage the hooks 19 are-removed from the outer most eyes 18 carried by the transverse ends of the top member and the sides 5 are swung upon their hinges 7 beneath the bottom one of the coop. The ends and partition 9 and 10 are now folded upon their hinges as illus-' trated in 5, (3 and 7 of the drawings, thus positioning the top directly above the bottom 1 and upon the hinged ends and partitions. W hen the device is thus knocked down the hooks 19 are brought into engagement with the intermediate eyes 18 so as to securely lock the elements comprising the coop upon each other.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be noted that I have provided a comparatively simple and inexpensive knock downv coop, one which may be easily and quickly folded compactly and locked in said folded position and one which may be easily and quickly set up and sustained in this set up position without danger of accidental col lapse.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a folding coop, av base having its ends and center provided with transverse slots, the upper edge of each being cut away to provide abutment portions, end members and a center member hingedly connected with the transverse strips, the center and the end members being each constructed of a pair of sections hingedly connected together, saidmembers having spaced upright strips adapted to engage the abutment portions of the transverse strips of the base, said upright strips being provided with hinges connecting the same with the bottom of the base, hook members upon the end upright strips hingedly connected with the ends and with the partition of the coop, pockets upon the ends of the transverse strips of the top adapted to engage the uprights of the sides, and spaced eyes upon the outer strips of the top adapted to be engaged by the hooks of the sides to sustain the coop in both its set up and knocked down position.

2. In a folding coop, a base having transverse stripsprovided with pockets upon their ends, end members hingedly connected with the strips, said end members being each constructed of a pair of sections hingedly connected together, the connecting hinges of the sections being provided with extending pintles, side members having uprights engaging the pockets of the bottom strips, said uprights being hingedly connected with the bottom of the coop, eyes upon the uprights adapted to be engaged by the pro-.

jecting pintles of the end hinges, hooks upon the uprights, a top provided with transverse end strips having pockets adapted to be engaged by the uprights of the sides, the end members of the coop being hingedly connected with transverse strips of the top members, and eyes upon the transverse strips adapted to be engaged by the hooks of the uprights of the sides to sustain the coop in its set up or in its knocked down position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR M. BENZING. lVitnesses F. C. DICKMAN, C. B. BARRON. 

